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Canoes: A Natural History in North America

Mark Neuzil and Norman Sims 2016

This is the story of the canoe, that singular American artifact so little changed over time. Featured here are canoes old and new, from birch bark to dugout to carbon fiber; the people who made them; and the adventures they shared. With features of technology, industry, art, and survival, the canoe carries us deep into the natural and cultural history of North America.

Follow author Mark Neuzil on Twitter: @mrneuzil

ISBN(s)

9780816681174 (hardcover)

Subject

Citable Link

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Start Over

Rice Lake Canoe Company catalog from 1900.

Rice Lake Canoe Company Catalog

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

Rice Lake Canoe Company catalog from 1900.

An illustrated catalog listing for the Nessmuk.

Nessmuk

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

J. Henry Rushton listed the Nessmuk in his 1907 catalog under the heading, “Feather-Weight Canoes.”

Frederic Remington illustration of a Rushton American Traveling Canoe.

American Traveling Canoe

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

Frederic Remington illustration of a Rushton American Traveling Canoe.

An illustrated catalog page for Rushton's Indian Girl canoe.

Rushton Indian Girl Catalog

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Rushton’s Indian Girl canoe could be ordered in sizes ranging from fifteen to eighteen feet.

E. M. White Company catalog cover from 1915 showing a courting canoe.

E. M. White Catalog

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

E. M. White Company catalog cover from 1915 showing a courting canoe.

An illustration depicting several of the beautiful color designs available in 1926 for Old Town canoes.

Old Town Designs

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Several of the beautiful color designs available in 1926 for Old Town canoes.

An illustrated view of the Old Town factory appeared in the company catalogs.

Illustrated Old Town Canoe Factory

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

An illustrated view of the Old Town factory appeared in the company catalogs.

Kennebec Canoe Catalog cover.

Kennebec Canoe Catalog

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Kennebec Canoe Catalog cover.

Illustrated cover of Carleton Canoe catalog.

Carleton Canoe Catalog

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

When this Carleton Canoe catalog cover was published in 1924, Carleton canoes were built in the Old Town factory.

A woman in a canoe plays an instrument while a male paddles.

Morris Canoe Catalog, 1917

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Between the years of 1917 and 1919, women changed seats with their male canoe partners on the covers of the Morris company catalogs.

Several women paddle canoes.

Morris Canoe Catalog, 1919

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Between the years of 1917 and 1919, women changed seats with their male canoe partners on the covers of the Morris company catalogs.

The Old Town Canoe Company celebrated the end of the First World War in 1919 with a military-themed catalog cover.

End of World War I

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

The Old Town Canoe Company celebrated the end of the First World War in 1919 with a military-themed catalog cover.

A 1923 Old Town Canoe catalog cover featuring two women paddling solo.

Women Paddle Canoes

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

By 1923, images of women paddling canoes were prominent on the covers of catalogs produced by Old Town and other makers.

The old-line canoe builder Old Town expanded into the fiberglass market in the 1960s. This advertisement, for its Rushton model, claimed a weight of 18.5 pounds on the 10-foot solo boat. Cost was $195.

Fiberglass Rushton Canoe

From Chapter 6: Synthetic Canoes

The old-line canoe builder Old Town expanded into the fiberglass market in the 1960s. This advertisement, for its Rushton model, claimed a weight of 18.5 pounds on the 10-foot solo boat. Cost was $195.